Wear analysis in THA utilizing oxidized zirconium and crosslinked polyethylene.
Oxidized zirconium, a material with a ceramic surface on a metal substrate, and highly cross-linked polyethylene are two materials developed to reduce wear. We measured in vivo femoral head penetration in patients with these advanced bearings. We hypothesized the linear wear rates would be lower than those published for cobalt-chrome and standard polyethylene. We retrospectively reviewed a select series of 56 THAs in a relatively young, active patient population utilizing oxidized zirconium femoral heads and highly cross-linked polyethylene acetabular liners. Femoral head penetration was determined using the Martell computerized edge-detection method. All patients were available for 2-year clinical and radiographic followup. True linear wear was 4 microm/year (95% confidence intervals, +/- 59 microm/year). The early wear rates in this cohort of relatively young, active patients were low and we believe justify the continued study of these alternative bearing surfaces.


METHODS
Level IV, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Garvin
Kevin L
KL
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-1080, USA.
Hartman
Curtis W
CW
Mangla
Jimmi
J
Murdoch
Nathan
N
Martell
John M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000601:surgery*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D020959:Polyethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015040:Zirconium
D002858:Chromium Alloys; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020959:Polyethylene; D015040:Zirconium